Hurricane Irene: what we're doing

[yinepu]

Quote:
I lived in Delaware for a number of years.. don't miss it at all.. we always knew we were gonna get hit when the storms would hit Nags Head, NC.. from there they just roll up the coast and slam us every time

try to stay safe... I'll keep my fingers crossed for your birds too

 

[mcf3kids]

Will pray for you and all the chicks/chickens! This storm will test our newly constructed coop and I hope she fares well - we are in NH so not too far south but alas we are still right in the path. We process tomorrow (thank goodness). My next batch arrives 09/7 - I hope all your wee ones do well. Stay safe everyone!!

 

[Tracydr]

Good luck, I hope everything goes ok. I've been through flooding, tornadoes, blizzards and severe winds but never hurricanes. My prayers will be with all of you and I hope the storm will turn off shore.

 

[PotterWatch]

Good luck! Let us know how you fare when you get a chance!

 

[Matrix Escapee]

HEY ALL, thanks for the prayers and well wishes. Means alot to me.

Just wanted to give an update.

We got all the pens secured. We put two giant straw bales (the kind you need a large loader to pick up) on the east side (open side) of all our pens. We then drove fence posts on the other 3 sides of each pens and tied them down. This morning I put about 4" of straw under each pen in the enlosed ends. The heavy rains set in around 10 am. I got all the feeders filled before that. I checked on the birds around noon and they looked happy and dry on top of the straw.

The heavy winds have not arrived as of 3pm, but I'd say we are in the 15-20 range now with sum gusts higher. Has not stopped raining since 8am, with the intensity constantly changing.

We are staying at our in-laws house now, about 5 miles from our house/farm. I am hoping to be able to make a quick stop back to the farm before dark and the scary wind and rain arrives. I want to check on the birds in the pasture and maybe attempt a feeder fill-up if needed. I also want to look in on the chicks in the shed, check the temp inside and fill feeders and waterers.

I will check in again after I (hopefully) get back from my final rounds.

Good luck to all!

 

[ScottyHOMEy]

Sounds like you're good to go with the older birds (call that shrewd husbandry), but you've got a challenge with the hatchlings. It'll be a premium price at this stage, but can you buy, or beg/borrow (please don't steal) a generator to keep the heat on the 3-day-olds?

 

[Matrix Escapee]

Scott, we can get one from the in-laws. Problem is, it needs to either keep chicks warm at my house, or the freezer running at his place.
People don't give birds enough credit though. They make it through the mail for 2 days with no heat, and typically there is only 1 dead out of 200 when we get them.
They are in the shed now and the doors are closed with the lamp on. So, if power does go out, they can probably make it unitl the sun comes up. We are now getting absurd heavy rain. Winds are now gusting in the 40's. It is just after 7pm now, and I'd say we've gotten 5 inches of rain at this point. Still havent even gotten to the hurrican eye strength winds yet.
I drove back to my house and did a final check-in and feeding at 5pm. All the birds outside were still doing great. All were dry and the feeders had no water in them. Everything is holding up well out this point. Chicks in the shed are doing great too. I got soaked, but was able to get all the feeders filled up one more time, knowing I would not be able to get back there until sometime tomorrow morning depending on how the night goes.

More photos of our straw barrier set up:

 

[Tracydr]

They look pretty secure. I hope the power holds for the freezer. I bet the little chicks will be fine.